SNL preview: Tigers aiming to pull off Dundee derby shock against the Comets

Dundee Tigers face a difficult test against Dundee Comets on Saturday as they bid to end a five game losing streak in the SNL.

The Tigers have played the Comets three times this season, losing 10-0 in the league and 19-4 on aggregate in the Scottish Cup.

The title-chasing Comets are just three points behind leaders Kirkcaldy Kestrels and Tigers’ defender Ian Carstairs admits his team have a massive job on their hands this weekend.

“This season has been extremely tough on us – we’ve been hit with a succession of injuries from almost the first game and I don’t think we’ve had a full squad at any point,” he said.

“As a result we got off to a pretty terrible start to the season with some heavy defeats and an early exit from the Scottish Cup.

“We did have a streak where we seemed to find our feet a little and grabbed some good results through the end of October and November, but we’re currently on a five game run of losses, although some of the performances have been promising even if the results haven’t gone our way.”

The Tigers are currently eighth in the table, six points behind a trio of teams above them but also six points ahead of Kilmarnock Thunder.

With the top eight qualifying for the play-offs, Carstairs is eager for the Tigers to secure the highest possible placing in the league standings.

“We’re in a bit of limbo in the league just now, with a distance between ourselves and the teams below us and another gap between us and the teams above us,” he added.

“Our aim for the remainder of the season is to try and close that gap above us and climb a couple of places in the league and try and set up for a play-off berth.

“This weekend against the Comets will be a huge test for us. They’ve got a big squad with a lot of ability and have recently strengthened with the addition of Cameron McGiffin who has dropped down from the Dundee Stars’ Elite team.

“They’ve beaten us soundly in the three games we’ve played against them so far this season and, while we’ve competed for periods of time in each of the matches, we’ve switched off at certain points and been punished. As a team we’ve got to be more focused and smarter in those dangerous situations.

“We’re definitely going in to this game as underdogs, but derby matches always have the potential for anything to happen in them and we’re hoping we can cause an upset.”

Edinburgh Capitals SNL travel to Kirkcaldy on Sunday chasing their fourth victory in a row.

It’s been an up and down season for the Capitals, with the squad often playing short on numbers. Forward Caly Robertson insists a full-strength Edinburgh can match any team in the SNL.

“We started well then lost four games in about three weeks home and away to (Paisley) Pirates and (Dundee) Comets,” he said.

“The games came at the wrong time with a combination of Caps’ Elite side calling players up and some injuries. Since then we’ve got back to winning ways.

“This weekend against the Kestrels we have to be at our best to compete with them, but we won’t really know until the last minute what size of squad we have as Caps Elite still have a few imports injured. Either way we’ll give it our best effort to take the points.

“With a full squad we are capable of beating everyone. Finishing top four or five is our goal now and also putting in a strong play-off push at the end of season.